Blog: Film festivals

"Content Creators Changing the World, One Project at a Time" is the theme of the 24th Urban Mediamakers Film Festival, October 13-19, 2025.

The festival is in-person and virtual with select in-person screenings and events throughout Gwinnett County, GA -- Duluth, Lawrenceville, Lilburn, Norcross, Snellville -- and Atlanta. UMFF features a daily virtual space with guest speakers, sessions and content creators Q&A.

Recognizing media as a powerful tool of choice for entertaining, informing, and inspiring, this annual content creators' festival showcases international, urban independent media. We are open to all creators, and we emphasize work produced by or featuring individuals of color - African, African-American, Asian, Black, Hispanic, Latino Native American, and Pacific Islander.

The Urban Mediamakers Film Festival promotes, supports and showcases filmmakers, independent content creators and multimedia producers — animation, advertising, marketing campaigns, blog, commercials, film, music, new media, podcasts. print, television, scripts, streaming, web series and virtual reality.

Guided by past wisdom and reflecting the new and exciting generation of new technology, we are dedicated to thinking out of the traditional box as we pursue our dreams courageously.

UMFF brings an exciting and creative atmosphere that encompasses cultural diversity, with activists, content creators, artists, writers and TV/movie buffs together under one roof to meet, collaborate and strategize for world change!

Actors, artists, bloggers, content creators, filmmakers, graphic designers, mobile app developers, musicians, podcasters, producers, streamers and writers have an opportunity to gain exposure for their projects, compete for the best-of-the-best with prizes in each category, attend industry-related educational series, along with excellent collaboration and networking.

Movie buffs, content creators, independent film and mix-media supporters have the opportunity to see a diverse group of superb films and projects from creatives that are independent with a vision.

The festival includes:

-- virtual and in-person events.

-- script reading featuring a scene from the top three screenplays in competition.

-- independent film screenings in competition on our UrbanFlixToGo.com platform during the festival with an option to continue on UrbanFlixToGo.com.

-- showcase of bloggers, podcasters, and mobile app developers.

-- 9th Urban PitchFest 2025.

-- 9th AfroFuturism Fest 2025 - Black sci-fi, fantasy, horror and gaming along with international thrillers. AfroFuturism Fest includes UMFF projects competing in the AfroFuturism category, vendors, panels, comic book swapping, AfroFuturism cosplay, costume contest for cash prizes, and more.

-- 2nd Annual Gwinnett County Comic-Con with renowned comic artists and authors from around the country.

-- Videopalooza 2025 - Middle and high school competition and screening series.

-- producers/distributors seeking independent films.

-- awards presentation and closing event.

-- closing night film.

-- audience award.

-- filmmaker and writer collaboration breakout sessions (SpeedCollabs).

-- winning films will be showcased on our streaming service UrbanFlixToGo.com.

UMFF attendees have an opportunity to network with their peers and executives for collaborations on future projects, as well as interact with an audience that supports independent mediamaking.

YOUR project will make our festival phenomenal! Submit to UMF 2024 today!

Peace and blessings,
Cheryle Renee Moses
Founder and Producer